The Pittsburgh Steelers set themselves up to potentially take a quarterback high in this year’s draft. However, that position ended up being much weaker than most people anticipated. Only one quarterback looks guaranteed to go on Day 1, and he isn’t making it to the Steelers’ pick. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is generally seen as the second-best signal caller this year. Analyst Emory Hunt thinks he’d fit nicely with the Steelers if they don’t have to spend a first-round pick on him.
“We can’t keep waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make up his mind,” Hunt said recently on CBS Sports HQ. “So, let’s go ahead and make a decision for him and take a quarterback in the second round in Ty Simpson.
“I know people will say they could take him right there at 21. That’s a little bit too rich for me, especially when you think about other areas where the Steelers could attack and continue to build this roster…I think this would be an ideal spot as well because of who the head coach is and how that team is set up on both sides of the ball.”
Simpson isn’t Kenny Pickett, with the Alabama quarterback having a little more upside. However, he still has some major question marks after starting just one year in college. That season was a mixed bag, too, which makes his inexperience even more concerning.
Landing Simpson in the second round, though, would allow the Steelers to still spend their first-round pick on a potential top talent. Quarterback is their biggest flaw, but they have other needs, too, such as at guard and wide receiver.
The issue there is that Simpson is unlikely to fall all the way to the Steelers’ second-round pick at 53. There’s a good chance that he doesn’t make it to Day 2 at all. If he does, other quarterback-needy teams will likely target him.
The Steelers could try to trade up if Simpson is available in the second round. However, that’s easier said than done. Teams like the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals are picking at the beginning of Day 2, and they could easily take Simpson.
Hunt’s ideal scenario looks like a longshot. If the Steelers want Simpson badly, they’ll likely have to take him in the first round. Otherwise, they’ll be waiting until next year to find their long-term answer under center.
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